Nice & Wavy
Well-Known Member
I Kings 19:1-14
Elijah the prophet wanted to die. He asked God to take his life because he had come to the conclusion that he was a failure. Elijah had just been victorious in the showdown with the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. God had sent fire down from heaven to consume Elijah’s sacrifice (see I Kings 18:17-40). In addition, the prophet had predicted a terrible famine, and the Lord had not sent rain for three years. After that time, Elijah prayed for rain, and God produced a torrential downpour (see vv. 41-46). God was working mightily through His servant Elijah. This made him very unpopular with Ahab and Jezebel, the wicked king and queen of Israel.
We read in I Kings 19:1-3:
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
Why did God choose not to answer Elijah’s prayer? In this passage we find several important factors that help us understand why God responded as He did Elijah. He evaluates our prayers in similar manner determining whether or not to answer them.
I. God Looked Behind Him.
Elijah the prophet wanted to die. He asked God to take his life because he had come to the conclusion that he was a failure. Elijah had just been victorious in the showdown with the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. God had sent fire down from heaven to consume Elijah’s sacrifice (see I Kings 18:17-40). In addition, the prophet had predicted a terrible famine, and the Lord had not sent rain for three years. After that time, Elijah prayed for rain, and God produced a torrential downpour (see vv. 41-46). God was working mightily through His servant Elijah. This made him very unpopular with Ahab and Jezebel, the wicked king and queen of Israel.
We read in I Kings 19:1-3:
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
- When Elijah heard Jezebel’s death threat, he fled for his life.
- He traveled about 100 miles from Jezreel down to Beersheba, located along the outer border of Israel.
- Considering all the powerful works the Lord had just performed through Elijah, it is hard to understand why the prophet didn’t stay and face Jezebel, trusting God to protect him.
- Instead, he fled into the wilderness and requested to die.
- Elijah had quite an experience, didn’t he.
- 1. He was terribly discouraged.
2. He had remained faithful in proclaiming God’s message, yet the only result, as far as he could see, was a threat on his life.
3. He believed that he was the only faithful person left.
- 1. He was terribly discouraged.
- Like so many other great leaders, Elijah requested that he be allowed to die rather than go on as he had been.
- When his burden had seemed too great to carry, Moses had also asked God to take his life. (cf Num. 11:11-15).
- Likewise, Jonah preferred to die rather than watch the Ninevites repent and be spared by God (cf Jonah 4:3).
- Jeremiah cursed the day of his birth (cf Jer. 20:14-18), as did Job (cf Job 3:1-16).
- These were all great men of God, yet even at their greatest, they were still men.
- James 5:17 tells us that Elijah possessed the human nature, with its problems, into account (one that is subject to the same emotions) as we have.
- These examples should be a reminder for us not to place any preacher or Christian worker on a pedestal.
- If we do, we should always make sure we look at their feet-not their face.
- When we do we will find that they also have feet of clay.
- Every man at his best is still a man, and they will fail.
- Some of the greatest people in the Bible failed in their strongest points. a. Moses, the meek and humble servant, became proud and boastful.
b. Abraham, the great man of faith, doubted God and lied about his wife.
c. Peter, a courageous man, became fearful and denied the Lord three times.
Why did God choose not to answer Elijah’s prayer? In this passage we find several important factors that help us understand why God responded as He did Elijah. He evaluates our prayers in similar manner determining whether or not to answer them.
I. God Looked Behind Him.
- A. Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel had been spiritually, physically and emotionally demanding on him.
- 1. His life had been in danger.
2. We all know that when we are tired, hungry and emotionally drained, we become discouraged.
3. In this mental state, we often say things we don’t really mean.
4. The Lord understands our human nature.
5. He loves us and knows what is best for us--even when we don’t.
- 1. God takes our human nature, with its problems, into account when considering our requests.
2. He often refuses to give us what we ask for.
3. He knew that Elijah’s request was motivated by his physical, mental and emotional exhaustion, not by a genuine desire to die.
4. So God did not answer Elijah’s prayer, instead, He gave the prophet what he really needed.- a. The Lord sent an angel to minister to his physical needs, providing food and water.
b. Then God directed Elijah to Mount Horeb, where He reminded the prophet of His great power.
c. This renewed Elijah’s faith and spiritual strength and prepared him to go back and face his enemies. (cf 1Ki. 19:15-19)
- a. The Lord sent an angel to minister to his physical needs, providing food and water.
- 1. His life had been in danger.
Sis, the Holy Spirit is on a roll with us tonight.
